Improvement in bed-plates for steam-engines



2 Sheets--Sheet Patntedlan. 19,1875. I

gmx/emi 01 Jn. nlcnAnnsoN. Bed-Plates for Steam-Engines.

2Sheets -,Sheet2` j I. D. RICHARDSON.

Wl Will/If l l/l/l//l//l/ i 4^ @weft Kwan* 01' f Md.- %%%f l fg? I @M UNITED STATES PATENT 0EEICE JOHN D. RICHARDSON, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BED-PLATES FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,980, dated January 19 18776; application filed October 14, 1874.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN D. RICHARDSON, of Houston, Harris county, State of Texas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bed-Plates for Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specication:

My invention consists of a certain construction of bed-plate, by which extreme stiffness is secured in the angle ofstrain with lightness of material, and a feed-water heating chamber embodied, convenient for the direct escape of exhaust steam into it from the cylinder.

Figure l is a perspective view of a bed-plate embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is avert-ical sect-ion in two planes on line W and the center of the cylinder. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line :r .fr of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a crosssection on line Y of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a crosssection on line Z of Fig. l.

The bed-plate is adapted to be cast in one piece with the lugs a for the foundation-bolts, the lugs b for the reception of the yoke to support the slides, the flanges c for the cylinder to rest upon, and the pillow-block d for-.the main sh aft; but it is obvious that the lugs a may be dispensed with, and the foundation-bolts made to enter through holes with raised edges within the outer line of the base-plate, and that the lugs b and pillow-block d for the main shaft may be separately bolted on. The base A of the bed-plate is rectangular, as shown, with its outer edges raised, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to retain the oil or grease on the plate, and thus prevent its running over the foundation. From one end of the bed to the other, and at one side thereof, a high ridge, B, is formed, which is hollow underneath, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and connects at the shaft end with the base-plate by a small fillet, e, and with the same plate at the cylinder end by a large curve, f, so that, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the bracing connection between The cylinder and the pillow-block is diagonal, in conformity to the angle of the strain between these two parts; andas the back plate g of the ridge B is in line with the axis of the cylinder, a bracing' of the bed-plate is the result, which prevents any deflection whatever under strain, and this elevated ridgeB, with its diagonal fillet cf, is the distinguishing feature of my invention.

The cylinder is received in the recess h., and rests upon the lianges c, as shown in Fig. 3, so that its exhaust can pass through slots c' into the chamber O below the cylinder. This chamber is fully inclosed, and receives exhaust steam for the purpose of heating feedwater. The coils of feed-water pipe are introduced through aperture j, the pipe both entering aud leaving chamber O after coiling inside, so as to expose a long surface to the exhaust steam. When the pipe is in place the aperture j is closed steam-tight. The exhaust steam, after passing the coils of pipe, is carried o' through aperture K and a suitable pipe. The sides of chamber O form a boxsupport, D, for the cylinder, as shown.

I claim- A bed-plate for a steam-engine, having bascplate A, cylinder-base D c, hollow ridge B, and diagonal llet c f, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony of which invention l hereunto set my hand.

JOHN DUNN RICHARDSON.

Witnesses g J. C. BALDWIN,

W. WILLIAMS. 

